"An event designed by and for the students". This description best sums up the experience of the afternoon of Friday 23rd February. The students of the 2017/2018 graduating class, who started the programs in April last year, bid each other farewell at the Closing Event, which is organized especially as a substitute graduation event for students who will not be able to attend the official Graduation Ceremony in the summer because they are returning to their countries.
Josep María Altarriba, the Dean of EAE Business School, gave a speech to welcome the participants, after an introduction from the academic coordinators Sara Fernández and Beatriz Pedreira. Altarriba underlined the importance of forming part of the EAE Business School family: "This is not goodbye. The fact that you are graduating today does not mean that you will no longer be in contact with us. That is precisely one of our key objectives". After congratulating the students on all their efforts over the last few months, the Dean of EAE emphasized that this 2017 session has been really special. "For the first time, our MBA has been ranked among the top 40 in Europe in a leading league that is respected worldwide".
Martin Muguruza, a former student on EAE's Master in Marketing and Commercial Management and now a consultant at IBM, did not want to miss the chance to recount his experience after his time at the School. "Thanks to EAE's Professional Careers Service, I had the opportunity to take part in a group exercise at IBM. I remember that moment like it were yesterday", explained Martin.
During the event, two students from graduating class also made a speech. The class representatives were Maha Ali Abdelraheem, a student on the Master of International Business, and Constanza Matthews, a student on the MBA. At the event, they both gave their sincerest congratulations to the more than 400 students that had managed to achieve their goals and successfully complete their tuition program at EAE.
"Today, we can say that we have made it. Some of us may have found it easier and others harder but, in the end, here we all are today". With these emotive words, Constanza summed up these tough months of perseverance and hard work, which, without the slightest doubt, have all been worth the effort.
To bring the event to a close, all the attendees raised a glass in the dining room of the Hotel Meliá Castilla, located right at the heart of the capital.
Positive balance of the graduating class
Members of the academic faculty also attended the event, especially the Program Directors, who did not want to miss this special occasion with their former students. "The final rating of the courses is always really positive", explained Javier Rivas, the Director of the Master in Financial Management. As he chatted with his former students and offered them his recommendations for the future, Javier emphasized the international profile of the group and the value that this adds to the learning environment. However, "above all, I would highlight the proactive attitude of these students".
Now a new stage begins for these EAE Business School students. During the event, they were happy and proud to have grown such much over the course of an academic year, at both a personal and professional level. Constanza Matthews, the EAE student representative, described how she felt knowing that she was going to take part in the Closing Event, by making a speech. "It was an honour to be asked out of all the students at EAE". Meanwhile, the student also explained what led her to study at MBA, stating that she "wanted to grow professionally, and the Master helped me to strengthen my knowledge".
Yasmín Sabam, a student on the Master in Marketing and Commercial Management, does not regret leaving Lima to continue her studies in the slightest. "I now work in a company that fascinates me. I am really happy", added the student, who currently has no plans to return to her country.
Carla Arza, a student on the Master in Human Resources Management, gave a final assessment of the last few months. "Everything I have experienced has been positive, from the knowledge acquired, the tuition and, of course the experience I have had getting to know people from so many different countries. I have learned a great deal".
